Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt suggested the Springboks lost focus after their fast start at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Boks stormed into a 22-0 lead inside the opening 18 minutes of the Rugby Championship clash, only to concede five unanswered tries in the second half as Australia powered to a shock 38-22 win – their first at the Joburg venue since 1963.

Speaking after the match, Schmidt said the Boks’ fast start may have ironically helped Australia back into the game.

“It’s funny, I’ve coached enough teams because I’m really old and I’ve had teams that get a, I wouldn’t say a soft start but a very, very rapid start. It can sometimes cause a bit of a lapse in effort and concentration. I think they just gave us a little bit of belief.”

However, Schmidt downplayed the significance of the result and said the scoreline flattered his side.

“We probably got a little bit lucky. We’re realistic at how we had to hang in there but I’m really proud of the way we did hang in there.

“That game was probably closer than the score dictates. We scored a couple of tries when they looked very dangerous and we got them on the break.”

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Schmidt praised the impact of his bench, with youngsters such as Zane Nonggorr and Jeremy Williams impressing, while Tate McDermott and Andrew Kellaway also played important roles.

“I thought that management and that effort combined to keep us in the game. We were not always on the front foot; the reality is the Boks still got us a few times.”

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Schmidt acknowledged that the Boks will be determined to hit back when the teams meet again next weekend, saying: “Yeah, absolutely.”

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images